Mechanical exercise and physical therapy device



May 3, 1955 s. P. NEMETH f 42,707,465

MECHANICAL EXERCISE AND PHYSICAL THERAPY DEVICE Filed Feb. 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 g2 Y \v 7"" /r/ mm ll 253] j May 3, 1955 s. VP. NEMETH 2,707,465

MECHANICAL EXERCISE AND PHYSICAL THERAPY DEVICE Filed Feb. 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MECHANICAL EXERCSE AND PHYSCALL THERAPY DEVICE Steffen Paul Nemeth, Chicago, lli. Application February 16, 1954, Serial No. 410,501 6 Claims. (Cl. 12S-*46) This invention relates to improvements in exercising devices, particularly, to that type of device whereby benecial stimulation of bodily blood ow, muscular activity, and functioning organs of a persons body seated thereon will be effected, the invention having for an object to provide a mechanically operable device which will produce and transmit to the body of the person seated thereon definitely beneficial and corrective physical therapy values, and bodily induced exercise.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the stated character incorporating in its construction automatically operated mechanical means for producing and transmitting to the seat thereof a predetermined character of wabble and/r rotative swaying motion, which motion will be transmitted to the body of a person seated thereon whereby to afford certain therapeutic values and exercise to and of the-same.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a body exercise and physical therapy device wherein the extent and/or character of motion generated thereby may be selectively modified.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a health and body developing device of convenient size and portable character, which is comparatively simple in its construction, durable and positive in operation, also a device capable of being produced at a minimum of cost and one embodying an advantageous degree of esthetic value, occupying only a minimum of oor or room space.

The foregoing, as well as other objects, advantages and meritorious teachings of my invention, will be in part Obvious and in part pointed out in the following detailed disclosure thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the forms ofthe invention presented herein are precise and what is now considered to be the better mode of embodying its principles, but that other modifications and changes may be made in specific embodiments without departing from its essential features.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention with a pattthereof broken away and showing in dotted lines the seat of the device in one of its wabble positions.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device with a pant of vthe seat thereof broken away; also showing the dianietrically opposed seat hand holds.

Figure 3 is an enlarged and fragmentary vertical section Vthrough the device showing the adjustable mounting ofthe seat and the motion generating and transmitting means whereby wabble motion is delivered to said seat and,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the adjustable pivotal joint mounting the seat of the de` vice on the supporting and driving shaft therefor.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the invention comprises a supporting base which may include a plurality of legs 1 received, in spaced relation within a cross-sectionally circularly shaped hood-like or skirted body 2 and fixedly connected thereto by welding or other suitable States atent means as shown in Figure 3. Said legs are of corresponding lengths and each preferably, has a foot on its lower end for engagement with a supporting surface. The upper and herein shown reduced end of the body is closed except for a concentrically located opening and a smaller and laterally offset opening therethrough.

A vertically disposed open ended cross-sectionally circular sleeve 4 having a horizontally flanged upper end 5 is received within the body 2 adjacent its upper closed end and in registration with the larger of the openings therein. Rivets 6 or their equivalents are permanently engaged through the body closed upper end vand adjacent portions of the anged end whereby said sleeve is fixcdly supported from said body.

A cross-sectionally circular sleeve 7 of greater diameter than the sleeve 4 is snugly and telescopically engaged over the lower end portion of the same and is detachably though securely connected thereto by a lag screw 8 threadedly engaged through one side of said second sleeve and with an adjacent portion of the sleeve 4. The lower open end of the second sleeve is horizontally flanged as at 9 and formed with suitable openings for receiving bolts 10 therethrough.

Said bolts are engaged with portions of the adjacent end of the casing 11 of a suitable type of electrical motor. The armature shaft of the motor (not shown) is drivingly connected to an appropriate form of reduction gearing (also not shown) received within or housed in the upper end portion of said casing 11. A driven shaft 12 of the motor reduction gearing is extended upwardly from the casing and is preferably headed, as at 13, for a purpose presently described.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the motor casing and the motor and reduction gearing housed thereby will be fxedly hung or supported Afrom the body upper en'd and within said body.; furthermore, that the vertical driven shaft 1?. of the motor reduction gearing will be centrally and vertically aligned with the larger opening in said body upper end. v

Relatively vertically spaced antifrictional bearings 14 and 15 are positioned horizontally within the vertical open ended sleeve 4 and so retained by means of spacer sleeves 16, 17 and '17 snugly and tixedly 'received within said vertical sleeve in the manner shown in Figure 3 of L the drawings.

Received in `and disposed longitudinally of the sleeves 4 and 7 and rotatably engaged through the inner-members of the antifrictional bearings 14-15 is a shaft 18. The upper end of said shaft extends `from the adjacent end Vof the sleeve 4, while its lower end portion is crosssectionally squared or niulti-sided at 18 and extended below the lower bearing 15 and the corresponding end of the sleeve 4 into the sleeve 7.

To effect a driving relationship between the gearing reduction driven shaft 12 and the shaft 18, a coupling 19 is vertically-engaged with and over the extended portion of said driven shaft and locked thereto by a coupling carried lock screw 20. The upper end portion of the coupling is formed with a vertically and upwardly opening cross-sectionally square or multi-sided socket, par; ticula'rly of shape and size as to snugly and slidably receive the multi=sided lower end 18 of the shaft 18 there- 1n.

The shaft 18 is normally retained in its uppermost po sition in and relative to the sleeve 4 by means of an expansion coiled spring 21 engaged about its intermediate `portion (see Figure 3). The lower end of the spring bears on the inner member of the antifrictional bearing 15. Its upper end bears on the adjacent side of an adjustable collar 22 carried by and locked to Van appropriate portion of the shaft 18 by means of a lock screw 23. To limit the extent of upward movement of momes .1 said shaft in and with relation to the sleeves 4 and 7, I may and preferably do engage a stop pin 24 diametrically through an upper portion of the same. The extended opposite end portions of this stop pin under urge of the coiled spring 21 have bearing on the under side of the antifrictional bearing 14.

Fixedly engaged over and with the extended upper end portion of the vertical shaft 18 is a collar 25 provided with a horizontal annular fiange 26.

As a means for supporting the device seat (hereinafter described in detail) on the vertical shaft 13, I provide a sectional supporting bracket indicated in its entirety by the numeral 27. Said bracket consists of substantially complemental body sections 28 and 28 each having outwardly disposed free end portions, and each having substantially complementally formed ratchet tooth faced inner portions 29 and 29 adapted to be fiatly interengaged, at times, and so retained by means of a lock screw 30 engaged therethrough and having a lock nut 31 threadedly engaged with the free and extended end thereof, all in the manner well shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, for an obvious purpose.

The device seat, hereinbefore noted and now identified by the numeral 33 is preferably constructed of formed or stamped sheet metal though, as will be understood, it may be constructed from any suitable material. The seating surface thereof is preferably dished, as indicated at 34 whereby to assure the firm seating of a person thereon. Wing-like hand holds 35 are fixedly mounted on the opposite sides of the seat 33 and extend outwardly therefrom providing convenient and desirable means whereby a person seated on the seat 33 may engage the same and thus add to the security of his seating particularly during operation of the device. As, in the instance of the seat construction 32, these hand holds 35 may too be constructed of formed or stamped sheet metal or other suitable material such as conditions or preference may dictate.

The free end portion of the vertical supporting bracket body section 28 is squared and seated on the shouldered portion 32 of the upper and extended end of the vertical shaft 18, being welded or otherwise fixedly secured thereto. Thus, said supporting bracket is supported on the shaft and is rotatable therewith.

In order that the seat 33 and hand holds 35 will be effectually supported on and by the shaft 18, a bracket plate 36 is flatly secured to the underside and concentrically of the seat. It, in turn, has a downwardly opening vertically disposed sleeve 37 immovably mounted thereon. Relatively spaced antifrictional bearings 38 and 39 are received and retained in the sleeve, preferably in proximity to the opposite end portions thereof, being so retained by means of an intermediately disposed spacer sleeve 40 within and affixed to adjacent portions of the sleeve 37.

A vertically disposed stub axle 41 having its lower end shouldered at 41', is engaged with and affixed to a similarly shouldered upper free end portion of the supporting bracket body section 28. Said stub axle is longitudinally received in the said connected sleeve 37 through the rotatable inner members of the antifrictional bearings 38 and 39. The inner member of the lower antifrictional bearing 39 rests on the adjacent end of the lower vertical supporting bracket body section 28.

To prevent vertical displacement of the sleeve 37 and the seat from or with relation to the stub axle, a lock screw 42 is horizontally and threadedly engaged through one wall of the sleeve and has its inner end extended into a way 43 formed in and about the axle periphery.

It will be thus seen that the seat 33 will be firmly and freely rotatably supported on and by the vertical shaft 18.

Because of the sectional supporting bracket 27, the degree or extent of angular positioning of the stub axle 41 with relation to the shaft 18 may be readily adjusted or varied. In consequence, the character or extent of Wab- Ll l.)

t ble motion of the seat 33, during operation of the device, may be preadjusted or pre-selected by the user.

Fixedly mounted on the underside of the closed upper end of the hood-like body 2 is an electrical circuit closing switch 44 whose switch throw arm 45 extends therefrom through the smaller of the openings in said closed upper end of the body 2 to a point above the same and immediately below the flange 26 of the collar 25. Said switch 44 is electrically connected, in a suitable manner, to the motor contact terminals within the casing 11. Thus, when the seat 33 of the exercising device is depressed, as when a person is seated thereon, the shaft 18 carrying the collar 25 will be moved downwardly. Upon such downward movement the fiange 26 of said collar will engage with the adjacent upper and free end of the switch throw arm 45 causing it to be moved downwardly and in a direction to close the electrical circuit in which the switch 44 is included and so, energize and operate the motor within the casing 11.

ff desired, a suitable form of roller 46 or the like may be mounted in the free end of the switch throw arm 45 whereby to reduce friction to a minimum, i. e. when the flange 26 is moved downwardly, depressing engagement with the switch throw arm is effected.

in operation of my exercising device the stub shaft 41 is adjusted to the desired degree of angularity with relation to the vertical shaft 18. Thereby the extent or degree of wabbling motion of the seat 33 during operation of the device, will be pre-selected.

At this time a person seats himself on the seat 33, thereby moving the seating assembly including the stub-axle 41, the supporting bracket 27, and the vertical shaft 18 downwardly with relation to Ithe supporting base. Concurrently with such movement, the electrical motor within the casing 1.1 is energized, transmitting rotary motion from its reduction gearing through the reduction gearing driven shaft 12 and the coupling 19 to the vertical shaft 18 supported in the telescopically engaged sleeves 4 and 7 connected to the closed upper end of the hood-like body 2 of the supporting base. This rotary movement will, in turn, be transmitted to the supporting bracket 27 receiving and supporting the angularly positioned stub-axle 41. Because of the angularity of positioning of the stub-axle 41 with relation to the vertical and now rotating shaft 18, said axle will move in a substantially orbital path thereby carrying the seat 33 along with it and imparting to the seat a wabbling like or rotative swaying motion. This motion, in turn, will be transmitted to the body of the person on the seat 33. Being thus transmitted to the persons body, said body will be bent, exed, swayed and otherwise moved, in a manner to effect exercising and stimulation of its muscles, internal organs, etc., all with definite therapeutic value thereto.

lt will be understood that when a person is positioned on the seat 33 of my improved exercising device, his feet will be firmly placed before the device on the supporting surface receiving the same. Therefore, the body of the person will be prevented from being rotated as the stubaXle 41 is moved through its aforesaid orbital path of travel.

If desired, the improved exercising device may be ernployed to transmit exercising motion to the pedal extremities of a person, merely by having that person firmly place such extremities on 4the seat 33 so that with operation of the device, the wabble motion produced by the same will be transmitted thereto.

Upon removal of the person's body from the seat 33, the vertical shaft 18, supporting bracket 27 and stub-axle 41 assembly will be collectively moved upwardly under urge of the expansion coiled spring 21 to a point limited by the stop engagement of the pin 24 with the antifrictional bearing 14. Thereby, the switch 44 will be opened and the motor in the casing 11 de-energized.

I claim:

l. An exercising device, comprising a supporting means,

a rotary motion generating and transmitting means on the supporting means, a vertical shaft received by said supporting means slidable with relation to the same and slidably connected to the said motion generating and transmitting means, a pivotally adjustable supporting bracket connected to the vertical shaft, a stub-axle endwise supported on and connected to said supporting bracket, and a seat rotatable on said stub-axle.

2. An exercising device, comprising a support including legs and a hood-like body having a substantial ly closed upper end enclosing the same, a vertical sleevelike means within the body supported from its upper end in registration with an opening therein, a vertical shaft received longitudinally through the sleevelike means and extended through the opening in said body closed end, rotary motion generating and transmitting means within the hood-like body supported from the lower end of the sleeve-like means drivingly connected to said shaft, a stub-axle adjustably mounted on the extended end of said shaft, and a seat rotatably supported on said stub-axle.

3. An exercising device, comprising a support including legs and a hood-like body having a substantially closed upper end enclosing the same, a vertical sleeve-like means within the body supported from its upper end on said body upper end in registration with an opening therein, a vertical shaft journalled in bearings in said sleeve-like means and disposed longitudinally of and through the same and extended through the opening in said body upper end, means engaging said vertical shaft normally retaining the same in a predetermined position relative to said sleeve-like means, rotary motion generating and transmitting means within the hood-like body supported from the lower end of the sleeve-like means drivingly connected to said shaft, a stub-axle carried on the upper end of said shaft in angular relation thereto, and a seat rotatably supported on said stub axle.

4. An exercising device, comprising a supporting means, a vertically disposed sleeve-like means supported by said supporting means opening on to the upper side thereof, a Vertical shaft journalled in bearings within said sleeve-like means and disposed longitudinally through the same and extended above the upper end thereof, rotary motion generating and transmitting means mounted on the lower end of said sleeve-like means drivingly connected to said shaft, a stub-axle carried on the extended upper end of said shaft adjustable to different positions of angularity with relation to the same, electrical circuit closing means on the support connected to the motion generating means, and means operable from said vertical shaft whereby to close said circuit closing means, at times, and a seat rotatably supported on said stub-axle.

5. An exercising device, comprising a support, a vertically disposed shaft slidably supported in bearings on said support having its upper end extended for a distance above the support, means engaging said vertical shaft normally retaining the same in a predetermined position with relation to the support, rotary motion generating and transmitting means carried by the sup port drivingly connected to said shaft, a stub-axle mounted on the extended upper end of said shaft and disposed in angular relationship thereto, means on the support for controlling, starting and stopping of said rotary motion generating and transmitting means, other means on the vertical shaft operable with sliding movement of the same to actuate said start and stop control means, and a seat rotatably supported on said stub-axle.

6. An exercising device, comprising a supporting means, a rotary motion generating and transmitting means on the supporting means, a Vertical shaft mounted on the supporting means slidable with relation thereto and slidably connected to said motion generating and transmitting means, means on the supporting means engaging said shaft whereby to normally retain the same in a predetermined position with relation to the supporting means, a stub-axle carried on the upper end of said vertical shaft adjustable to different positions of angularity with relation to the same, a seat rotatably supported on and by the stub-axle, and means on the supporting means operable upon downward sliding movement of said shaft to activate the motion generating and transmitting means and operable upon upward sliding movement of the shaft to its normal predetermined position to de-activate the motion generating and transmitting means.

References Cited in the ftle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 478,166 Madsen July 5, 1892 975,437 Kunkel Nov. 15, 1910 1,950,248 Janson et al. Mar. 6, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS 402,762 France Sept. 7, 1909 

